2 Samuel 16:11-12

New International Version (NIV)

David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

For Meditation

The right perspective always saves the day for the godly person. Things happen to us everyday.  People rise against us in so many ways – even our own family members and close friends. They seek to sink us to the bottom of the pit, with our feet deep in the mire. Sometimes the wicked acts of friends come to just make life miserable to enjoy. Such offensive dribbles delight the hearts of their perpetrators, they even bet on your next predicament. How does the child of God repond? What dictates your

reaction to such provocation?

Absalom staged an insurrection against  David, his father. Things got so hairy that the warrior king of Israel, the slayer of the giant and the object of the affection of Israel’s women, fled for his life across the Jordan. Ahithophel, his most trusted counselor, joined in the conspiracy that gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.  The king said to his officials:

“Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

Absalom had scored the first psychological defeat against David. The bold and courageous king never knew retreat until that day. Paul was right. If you think you’re standing, be careful you don’t fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

The dark shadows of the Bathsheba defeat had taken its toll on the man and weakened his moral strength. So his soft spots were

showing, and what a soft spot he had for his beloved son, Absalom! Now, everybody could take a swing at the fleeing king, who was barefooted and wailing (2 Samuel 15:30). Shemei also did. He cursed and pelted David with stones (16:5-8). What humiliation!

But he was not alone yet. David had his faithfuls around him including his best warriors who rose to his defense (9). What David said to Abishai when he asked to silence Shemei with the sword is what speaks to me so deeply today that I want to share.

If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”  (2 Samuel  16:12).

In all His troubles, David never lost sight of God as his Lord and the source of all that he was and had. In good times and bad, the Captain of the host of Israel was his Banner, and he trusted Him through it all. What David was saying in essence was this:

“God is my Lord and King, though I am your king. I know my place under His sovereign rule. He determines what happens to me and what He keeps away from me at every time. This man Shemei has no authority over me but what the Lord has allowed. He is cursing me because the Lord has allowed it, just as He has raised Absalom, my son, to humble me. So I will bear everything under its offense.

But hear this, my officials. The Lord will definately look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of the curse of this Benjamite. If even He chooses not to, I trust His sovereign will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2) for me.”

What a man! Is it any wonder he was a man after God’s heart? He knew the Lord and his place under His righteous rule.

May we know our Lord in this way, so that we may be equipped to handle the Shemei’s of

this world. They are instruments of God for our spiritual growth and maturity. Remember, God works all things together for good for those who love Him, those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

So burst the bubble of the Shemei in your life today by leaning on the Lord and shame the devil.